Cinema Canada (Mar-Apr 1975)

Film Archives has brought the NFA out of the Public Archives complex and into the national film limelight. Perhaps the NFA will now begin to function as a truly national film agency for all Canadians. Currently, the NFA occupies a large part of the bottom floor of the West Memorial Building in Ottawa. It has recently acquired 30,000 sq. ft. of space next to its present offices. the NFA is continually expanding and it is now looking for a building to store its thousands of nitrate films. The staff of the NFA will be increased to about 20, and they will absorb several employees from the CFI. To meet these added expenditures the NFA has asked for a $2 million yearly operating budget from the Secretary of State, and at this writing has not yet received it. As Mr. Kula explained, “I would like to see the National Film Archives as an active archives rather than a passive one”. For example, he would like to adopt a more aggressive approach for exhibiting films to the Sam Kula ee public (perhaps a Canadian Film Theatre showing Canadian films??), establishing NFA regional offices in various cities across Canada and maybe even a travelling NFA exhibit for publicity purposes. But, he cautiously added, “‘there is lots of groundwork to be done and the next 18 months will tell the story of what the role of the National Film Archives will be”’. Tony Lofaro VANCOUVER NFB — Vancouver Previewed at the National Film Board’s screening room on Georgia Street West, were Peter Jones’ first am three formulated for TV _ half-hour Pacificanada documentaries. These follow such earlier acclaimed NFB productions on various parts of Canada as Adieu Alouette, about Quebec. The executive producer is Ian MacLaren. A Slow Hello is a product of the Nicola Valley in British Columbia, where ranching has been a way of life for generations. It’s the story of a working cowboy, aged 64! John Drake was born on a B.C. ranch. In his heyday, he was one of the best horseshoers on the racetracks of America. He works on one of the biggest ranches in North America, gets up at 5 A.M. working until 5 P.M. and is payed $400 a month plus room and board. The film catches the free and easy acceptance of a hard life, and the illusion of independence. Tom Radford directed. Soccer may not be thought of as a woman’s game but Sheilah Reljic handles the direction and editing with a sure confidence. Soccer is B.C.’s number one sport. Over 33,000 men and boys play soccer on the lower mainland. Sheilah creates an amusing insight into the sport, and shows that women as well as school boys, and men, adapt readily to the game’s rough housing. Third is the nitty gritty film, Whistling Smith which takes the ‘viewer into the seedy life of the tough est area of Vancouver, the land of prostitutes, drug peddlars, glue sniffers, and con-artists, and the amazing cop who controls its crime by sheer presence. Whistling Smith Sergeant Bernie Smith lies to keep his beat clean. He applies the law in blunt terms. He does such a good job that the rest of the force are having difficulty keeping Vancouver’s Granville Mall from being a proto-type of what Smith’s beat used to be. He gets along with the “‘sleazy types” in a love-hate way. They ask his advice. Losers approach him for legal advice when they’re busted and spit on him when they are back on the street. Barry Howells, and Michael Scott are the producers. Subsequent films in the series will deal with the company town of Trail, life in a small mining town, the lives of two lively and unusual old timers from Vancouver Island, and the social struggle of the Bella Bella Indians on Campbell Island. Production Notes Mooted for a hopefully early start is New Century Productions Ltd., Cinema Canada 15